Big ketch in Cardiff Bay

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caol

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Good day to you.

On Friday night there was a big Bermuda rigged ketch - probably around 80-90 foot - lying alongside the pontoons at Mermaid Quay, Cardiff Bay. She left on Saturday morning.

She looked like a Fife or Mylne design - probably built in the 1920s or 30s, I would say. White, long overhangs, flush decked apart from a biggish varnished deckhouse (slightly forward sloping) at the for'ard end of the cockpit. Beautiful boat.

I would love to know what boat this was. Does anybody know?
 
Welcome to the forum.

I was down by the water at the weekend, but on the opposite side of the country, so unfortunately I haven't got a clue!

Did you take any photo's?

Little Knot
 
Thanks to both

For the welcome and the suggestion.

I found some image of the "Thendara" - lovely boat and the deckhouse is very similar - but she is a gaffer and this boat was bermuda rigged. Definitely in the right ballpark though.
 
Re: Thanks to both

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The fact that she's bermudan means that she's probably not a prewar design. With out pictures it'll be very difficult to guess the identity of the vessel.

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Not sure about that. A lot of boats from the thirties were bermuda rigged. Others were later converted, of course - which may have been the case with this one.

Sadly I only saw her in the late evening. Was hoping for a closer look in the morning, but she was gone. I was just wondering if there may be Cardiff based posters here who might have seen her or have direct information.
 
Re: Thanks to both

Most of the boats bermuda rigged before the war were built for racing. A ketch is more of a cruising rig so owners didn't usually go for the latest and greatest technology.

It is possible that she's been rerigged. But with the number of new boats being built to classic lines I think's more likely that she's a relatively new boat.
 
Re: Thanks to both

Hi i happen to know a shipwright who visited her on fri eve, he will be in work tue so i will get all the info you need, he did mention it today but i wasnt realy listening, chris
 
Having seen her

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I think's more likely that she's a relatively new boat.

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I have to disagree
 
Ah - now that is the kind of thing I was hoping for

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Hi i happen to know a shipwright who visited her on fri eve, he will be in work tue so i will get all the info you need, he did mention it today but i wasnt realy listening, chris

[/ QUOTE ]

I shall look forward to his answer
 
If you are bored, you could try having a look through Tim Wright's lovely photos of classic yachts at http://www.photoaction.com/regattas.htm

and see if you can recognise her in any of his albums.

Have a browse through the Med classic regattas, also Antigua Classics.

I am wondering if she might be Sumurun? She is a bermudan ketch (Fife I think) - apparently they were (some years ago) considering converting her back to gaff cutter (her original rig) but I dont think that has happened yet.

PS - Just had a look at Sumurun's website http://www.sumurun.com/main.php and she is out here for the winter.

Has 'your' fine vessel got a bow sprit?
 
Eureka! (I think)

Thank you, Woodlouse - that looks very like the boat I saw. Confirmation tomorrow, perhaps.
 
Great pics

Don't think she's there, but I found another lovely boat - one I know of old. What a lot of beauties.
 
Yup - that\'s her!

[ QUOTE ]
Thank you, Woodlouse - that looks very like the boat I saw. Confirmation tomorrow, perhaps.

[/ QUOTE ]

Just checked the "Captain's log" on the website and she was, indeed, in Cardiff Bay around 27th January. Looks like one of her skippers is the grandson of an old friend - a nice bit of extra info.

I'm delighted to have tracked her down, with your help. Many thanks!
 
Re: Ah - now that is the kind of thing I was hoping for

Hi the ketch is halcyon and she is from gloucester,my shipwright wrote it all down for me,guess what left it on board, she has a website i can confirm it tomorro,
chris.
 
Many thanks Chris

I really appreciate the help you folk have given me. If the shipwright has other info I would be glad to know it. No reason, really, except that boats like that give me a lot of pleasure. I looked at the website, but I can't see myself mustering up the wherewithal to sail in her. But I can look.
 
Hi more info on Halcyon,i am reading this off a piece off oily paper so bear with me, here goes, she is a carvel constuction ketch built by Vosper Thornycroft about 1929she is constructed of teak on oak beams not sure of her sail area, her web site is:- halcyon yacht charter .com. hope this helps.chris.
 
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